Who Keeps Your Bantams in Cages?

[RAREROO]

Hi

I am going to be starting with a few different bantam breeds and I am debating whether to keep them in raised cages or on the ground. Do they lay as good in a comfortable cage as they do when kept on the ground? I know that Phoenix bantams tail feathers break easily when it rains and they get wet and muddy from dragging the ground, so I would think they would need to be kept off the ground, and what about cages for trios of OEGs, Seramas, d'Anvers, Cochins, and Silkies, wouldn't these work in cages as long as they are large enough to comforatbly house them, what size cages do you suggest for trios or quartets of those breeds, or would the laying be effected to bad if they were kept in cages? Any thoughts, suggestions, and pics of your bantam cages would be great. Thanks

 

[4hooves&featheredfriends]

My bantams have a small coop - 5 banties in a 4x8 coop. When you consider your breeds - I love my cochins and brahma; a mille fleur d"Uccle (or a few) are a must. My Chleo is the most sociable of my banties and she always comes to sit on my lap and flies to the door to see me. Here she is sitting on the arm of the rocking chair in the kitchen. She is still growing, so her tips of the feathers are continuing to "white out."

I

her. One of these days I will get a video of her following me around the house. She sometimes wipes out on the floor and slides a few feet until she regains her feet. It is hilarious hearing the pitter patter of her feet and she sticks out her little head.

 

[Megs]

unfortunatly i cant help you with your Q, but i am interested in the responses! i have several breeds, currently kept in breed specific coops with attatched outdoor runs (so grass/dirt/mud), but in the spring i plan on building some "breeding/show" cages in my barn, as i have some cochins and japanese who get scruffed up being on the ground that i would like to keep in good condition for show, plus i can have more kinds if they are in cages (fill the outdoor coop/runs with easier to keep birds).

I was thinking of 6X2X2 metal cages with pull out metal trays so they have shavings as a floor as opposed to wire which can be problematic (feather breakage on feather legged breeds, bumblefoot, etc). that is for a trio of birds. i also plan to build a few 'tractors' (just runs) so they can have some chicken time outside a few days a week.

 

[Nava]

well since we are sharing. Let me tell you about Batty. she lives in a 2,800 square foot cage WITH US!!!!! when she is outside with the others i can go outside call her name and she would come at her own time and pleasure until i say faster then she would step it up a bit then i say faster then she comes RUNNING!!! it is so funny. she runs the house a bit strong and she's very bossy. But we love having her in the house. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[jacktheknife]

RareRoo,

I raise O.E.G. Bantums in cages but only because the breeder coops
which will be 8' x 10' and 6' tall are not done.
My friend from 1959 {the fourth grade}
who is the manager of the Aggie Feed Store
says: "poultry need to be in the dirt".
It is better for their health as they can get their immunities built up
whereas in a cage they are not exposed to "the World".

My Bantums are doing fine, but the breeder coops
will be started in March and the birds should have nice coops by hot weather.
Nice coops with dirt floors.
I feel better too them having room to fly around a bit.
Poultry can't have too much room.


J. Winters von Knife
and Sandymay
http://jacksknifeshop.tripod.com/

 

[elmo]

Beautiful D'Uccle! Our Billina is a D'Uccle hybrid, and she's our favorite.

 

[IcedMochaChick]

I have a trio of seramas in a chick-n-hutch in the basement for the winter. They are doing fine, though I may need to trim their nails before spring. They are next to a large sunny window and I give them veggies in a suet holder. I also have their offspring,a cockeral, I keep in a large chinchilla cage (minus the shelves) with a roost. He is right next to the original trio, so they can see each other. Lastly, I have 3 chicks in a brooder next to them. They all seem to be doing fine. They get to come out and play when they like.

 

[LAMchop]

I have a trio of bantams in a cage now, only because I ran out of room elsewhere! All my other bantams are in coops floored with hardware cloth. It works, and keeps things clean, but I do have to trim toenails, and the feathers on my cochins and d'uccles legs look so sad- broken stubs. My next coop for those guys will at least have a solid floor w/ shavings.


4hooves- Such a cute D'uccle! I just got some this year, I had no idea how sweet they would be!

 

[Nava]

what is a o e g

 

[Chickenaddict]

OEG= old english game

I keep my seramas in the house over the winter. I have a 5 ft wide by 3 ft deep by about 3 ft high brooder type cage I keep up to 7 birds in, a very large dog kennel for the grow out pen, and a shower stall I keep a quad in (shower is never used anyway and the tiles make for easy clean up). bantam cochins would be a different story as some get pretty big but great for the smaller bantam breeds